Before you "get your motor runnin' and head out on the highway," it may be a good idea to get into a classroom.

State law requires motorcyclists to have Class M motorcycle licenses, but not all of them do.

To get motorcycle licenses, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation requires knowledge and skills tests, and encourages everyone to take a basic rider course offered in technical colleges or related businesses.

Now one business, Appleton Harley-Davidson, has built and opened a multi-use facility that has the Harley Davidson Riding Academy as its showpiece.

It offers beginner classes, and can help any rider brush up on safety and skills.

Terry and Joshua Doughty, father-and-son dealership owners, sunk $2 million into the new 20,000-square-foot building south of their existing dealership at 5322 Clairemont Drive in Grand Chute, near the corner of State 15 and McCarthy Road. The new building also includes winter bike and car storage. It has an outdoor training range.

The high price tag will be worth it in the long run, they say, even though the industry as a whole is seeing stalled sales.

“We see this as a risk and an opportunity,” Joshua said.

Their existing building, across the street, is already one of largest Harley dealerships in the state. It offers bike sales, service, storage and merchandise sales.

“We built our dealership out here in 2000, and we resisted (expansion) for a long time,” said Terry. “But as motorcycle enthusiasts, we want more people to enjoy motorcycling. We want them to go through the class and have as much fun as we do.”

“Hog clubs can have monthly meetings here,” Joshua said as he showed off the new space. “We want to become the dealer of choice.”